After the Portland City Council unanimously approved a sick leave ordinance months in the making, Commissioner Amanda Fritz, who led the effort, held a press conference. Her message to supporters and advocates was simple: "We did it." Benjamin Brink / The Oregonian

The Portland City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a historic -- if divisive -- ordinance that requires area businesses to grant employees earned sick time.

"This one of those moments where we made Portland a better place," Mayor Charlie Hales said before he offered the fifth and final vote. "This is justice. This is the right thing to do."

Portland joins Seattle, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Connecticut as the only U.S. jurisdictions to mandate sick leave, making it somewhat uncharted territory. Over coming months, supporters and opponents will be asked to help the council craft rules for implementing the policy. They'll also move their attention to an effort at the state Capitol to pass a statewide standard.

In a news conference after the vote, Commissioner Amanda Fritz, who made passing the ordinance a signature issue, began her remarks with a simple: "We did it." So what comes next?

For employers: As of Jan. 1, 2014, all private employers in Portland, including businesses and nonprofits, will have to give employees up to 40 hours of sick leave each year. Only those with six or more employees will have to offer paid time off.

Businesses outside Portland but with employees that work in Portland more than 240 hours a year will have to offer those employees sick time.

Employers that are exempt: The ordinance exempts federal, state and local governments. However, the city of Portland is subject to the rule, and officials have estimated it could cost the city $200,000 a year. Additionally, businesses that already have sick leave policies that are as good as or better than the city's standard will not have to change.

For employees: Employees will earn one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked. They will need to work at least 240 hours a year to qualify. New employees will have to wait 90 days before they can use sick leave.

Rule-making: In a few months, city officials will begin drafting rules to flesh out record-keeping standards, penalties for noncompliance and other issues.

Legislature: Lawmakers in Salem have said they'll pursue a statewide law and have introduced both a House and Senate bill mandating sick leave policies. It's still too early to gauge its chances.

Reaction:

"It is an imperfect ordinance that adversely impacts small business, and we're concerned about companies that offer robust sick leave or leave benefits and the amount of record-keeping and the lack of protection in the current ordinance."-- Megan Doern, Portland Business Alliance

"I think they've ignored a lot of the concerns of the business community. ... I would encourage it to be resolved at the state level." -- Marc Albers, Franz Bakery president

"I'm feeling like it's a good, strong policy. They did incredible work coming up with something that fits Portland." -- Andrea Paluso, director of advocacy group Family Forward Oregon

"We have gone to work sick all the time -- deli workers, bakery workers, cashiers. My children have gone to school sick. I'm thrilled with this." -- Susan Lund, grocery store employee